Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: The Reverend F. L. Warleigh, Chaplain, Royal Navy, who met a tragic end on his bicycle whilst trying to avoid a child, and being crushed to death by a traction engine in September 1899

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Revd. F. L. Warleigh, B.A. Chap. R.N. H.M.S. “Northumberland”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, reverse engraved ‘F. L. Warleigh’, nearly extremely fine (2) £360-£440

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Collection

Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997 (when sold as a single Egypt Medal).

Frederick Warleigh was born on the Isle of Wight in August 1847. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from St John’s College, Cambridge, in 1870 and was ordained in 1871. Warleigh entered the Royal Navy as a chaplain on 5 February 1873, his first ship appointment being to H.M.S. Resistance, Channel Squadron, in July 1873. He joined the Naval College in 1875 where he qualified as a naval instructor with seniority date of 21 June 1876. Warleigh served with H.M.S. Wolverine in the Australian Squadron (August 1876) and the Northumberland in the Channel Squadron (February 1881). He was next appointed to H.M.S. Royal Adelaide, Flagship at Devonport (October 1883), Rover, Training Squadron (June 1886), Champion, Pacific Station (January 1889), Lion, training ship for boys (February 1892), and as chaplain to the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Walmer Depot (July 1895).

The Reverend Warleigh died in a road accident with a traction engine in September 1899:

‘The reverend gentleman rode past the engine. In endeavouring to avoid a boy, who was also riding a bicycle. Mr Warleigh’s machine fell, and the unfortunate gentleman was thrown under one of the large hind wheels of the engine, and instantly crushed to death. The bicycle was so close to the engine that there was no time to pull up on the part of the driver. The large hind wheel passed over the reverend gentleman’s legs, and crossways over his body, but missed his face. The body was removed as quickly as possible.’ (The Dover Express, 15 September 1899)

Sold with copied research.